Kang Dae-Ho

Kang Dae-ho, also known as Player 388, was a contestant in the 37th Squid Game. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1987. He grew up as the youngest in a family of seven, which included his parents and four older sisters. He spent a significant amount of time playing games with his sisters, becoming skilled in activities traditionally considered "girly". Despite his childhood experiences, his father reportedly pressured him to join the Republic of Korea Marine Corps to seemingly "masculinize" him. However, this didn't occur as Dae-ho was actually chosen to be a Social Service Personnel, a type of military service for individuals deemed unable to serve in the regular military due to disabilities or mental health issues. It's implied he was considered mentally unfit for regular military service. He acquired a fake Marines tattoo and created a cover story about being part of Cohort 1140 to gain acceptance among his peers. By August 2024, Dae-ho had accumulated a substantial debt of ₩630 million, leading him to enter the Squid Game in an attempt to pay it off. He initially presented himself as confident and brave, claiming to be a former marine and acting as a protector, especially for Jun-hee. He formed an alliance with Seong Gi-hun and Park Jung-bae, who was also a former marine, forming a bond with them through his fabricated military service. He joined Gi-hun's team and participated in a rebellion against the guards. However, his façade eventually crumbled under pressure, revealing his true nature as a coward driven by fear and insecurity. He reportedly abandoned his teammates during critical moments and failed to return with ammunition during the rebellion due to panic. This led to a significant deterioration in his relationship with Gi-hun, who blamed him for his friends' deaths.